Grafton – Over 40 businesses, churches, and organizations in Grafton will be offering holiday entertainment, activities, refreshments, crafts and more Sunday, Dec. 4, during the 21st annual Grafton Celebrates the Holidays event.
Look for the “Frosty Stop” snow bear logo at participating locations. Many stops are perennial favorites such as the horse-drawn wagon rides at the Brigham Hill Community Barn, the gingerbread house contest at St. Andrew’s Church, the craft fair at the Municipal Center Gym, the petting zoo and Santa’s Workshop at Savers Bank and the Polar Express trackless train rides at UniBank.
Many other stops return year after year including Houlden Farm where you can make stocking stuffers, Bushel ‘n’ Peck that offers up complimentary chicken soup and the Grafton Fire Department that hosts letter writing to Santa. Others are new this year such as the Grafton Grill that is serving up slices of dessert pizza; the Silver Spruce Montessori where you can enter to win a free night of babysitting; Highfields Christmas Tree Farm in which you can cut your own fresh tree and sip warm cider; and the American Assyrian Association where you can learn about Assyrian culture, how to spell your name in the ancient language of Aramaic and taste Assyrian snacks and refreshments.
Special holiday performances will also be taking place at the Unitarian Church by their Bell Choir and at 2:30 p.m. at Apple Tree Arts by the ATA Community Chorus.
As always, Santa will be making his visit at Homefield Credit Union before getting a ride on a Fire Department ladder truck to the common for the official tree-lighting ceremony and sing-along. You can join along with caroling by the Girl Scouts at 4 p.m., then enjoy music by guitarist Mike Tarara before Santa arrives. The caroling will continue until the tree lighting.
New this year are some new ways to visit some of the Frosty Stops. The Safe Routes to School Committee is promoting a healthier holiday with walking routes; a variety of routes will be posted with the number of steps which you can track with your fitness band or app. With at least 5,000 steps you will be entered to win a prize. Also, shuttle buses will run from the Grafton High School to Koopman’s Plaza and the common.
Follow Grafton Recreation on Facebook at @GraftonRecDept for a live feed during the day of the event. For detailed times and event descriptions and locations, pick up a brochure at participating businesses or visit www.GraftonRec.com.
